Tuition hike requests provide options if cuts come

University of Colorado and other college students could face tuition hikes next year of more than 9 percent if state funding continues to plummet.
“Every governing board wants to keep their options open,” said Brian Burnett, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Vice Chancellor of...

University of Colorado and other college students could face tuition hikes next year of more than 9 percent if state funding continues to plummet.

“Every governing board wants to keep their options open,” said Brian Burnett, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance.

The University of Colorado system requested a potential increase of 9.5 percent. Colorado State University submitted a request for a 20 percent tuition increase.

Every public campus is required to submit tuition plans in the fall, but the requests are simply placeholders until the General Assembly approves the budget, said Tom Hutton, UCCS spokesman. The University of Colorado Board of Regents generally sets tuition rates in April.

Burnett said the University of Colorado system does not want to increase tuition more than 9 percent. It is trying to prepare for a potential 50 percent to 60 percent cut in state funding.

Colorado Department of Higher Education spokeswoman Dawn Taylor Owens said the Colorado School of Mines is the only eligible school that hasn’t asked for permission to raise tuition above the 9 percent hike allowed by state lawmakers.